Spring support-pivot.



No. 786,388; I PATENTBD APR. 4, 1905.

' H. M. SMITH.

SPRING SUPPORT PIVOT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. e, 1904.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

PATENTED APR. 4, 1905.

H. M. SMITH.

SPRING SUPPORT PIVOT.

APPLIUATIOH FILED SEPT. 6, 1904.

2 sums-SHEET 2.

g s I 9/////// 'HlIllllllllllillllllllllllllll Patented April 4, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

HERBERT M. SMITH, OF GREAT HARRINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGN OR TO STANLEY INSTRUMENT COMPANY, OF GREAT BARRINGTON, WAS- SACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SPRING suPPoRT-FfivoT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 786,388, dated April 4;, 1905. Application filed September 6. 1904. Serial No, 223,392.

To all 2077/0712 it Inn/y concern.-

Be it known that I, HERBERT M. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Great Barrington, Berkshire county, Massachusetts,

5 haveinvented certain new and useful Improve- I men ts in Spring Support-Pivots, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to support-pivots, par- IO ticularly pivots which are adapted for use in connection with the rotating parts of meters.

One object of my invention is to secure an improved and easily-altered device; another is to secure a device in which worn parts can be easily replaced.

Another object is to provide a yielding pivot, it having been found desirable in some constructions that ayielding pivot should be employed in order to lessen the jar due to vibration or movement of the shaft. and protect the meter-jewel as well as the pivot-bearing surface.

The following is a description of apparatus embodying my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the invention in vertical section, while Figs. 2 and 3 show modifications of the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawing Fig. 1, A is a motor-disk mounted on the hub B, which is in turn mounted uponthe shaft C. This shaft has an internal bore D passing through part of its length, in which is located a spiral spring E, surrounding a stop or stop-rodF and together with the stoprod resting on the head G of the pivot H. The rod F is of such length that normally there is some distance between its upper end and the inner end of the bore D, its purpose being to limit the upward movement of the pivot H without, however, entirely preventing such movement. The mouth of the here D is closed by a perforated screw-plug I, through Which the shank of the pivot H 45 passes, its downward movement being limited by the headG. This screw-plug I has its outer periphery provided with gear-teeth K, forming a pinion meshing with the wheel L of the registering train. This construction permits the easy substitution of pinions of different sizes to meet difierent requirements. Italso permits the use of different material for the pinion from that used for the shaft. The pivot engages with a suitable jewel J, which in the present instance is shown as a revolving jewel. The lower part of the shaft C is surrounded by the guard M for preventing such displacement of the shaft and pivot as would cause the pivot to disengage the jewel. The curved shape of the jewel centers the pivoting-shaft, so that in normal operation the shaft does not make contact with the guard, so as to cause friction.

It will be seen that the pivot H is guided by the contact of the head G with the inner bore D and by contact with the orifice in the screw-plug I. These points of contact being removed from each other for a considerable distance enable a much truer fitting of the parts with the same degree of accuracy in workmanship than would be the case if the bearing-points were near to each other or a short pivot were used. It will also be evident that the renewal of the pivot, if necessary for any cause, is easily accomplished by simply unscrewing the plug I and inserting a new pivot H, carrying the head G.

As shown in Fig. 2, the plug 1 may be an internally-tlneaded member engaging with screw-threads on the outside of the shank C, and the stop F may be made integral with the head G of the pivot H, which may be screwed to the body. This is necessary when the pivot has an enlarged foot O for a ball-bearing-P, as shown in Fig. 2, and the device I is composed of a single piece. The functions of the support J, guard M, and gear L will be evident. Moreover, the pinion may be formed on the main body of the shaft by cutting the teeth K thereon.

In Fig. 3 a conical closing device I is shown forced into the mouth of the bore in the shaft. The functions of the other parts are evident from the description of similar features in Fig. 2.

My invention permits of various othermodiiications which will occur to the skilled mechanic. In some embodiments it is notnecessary to have the spring or stop within the central bore or to have the gear-teeth on the body of the shaft or plug, since they can be carried by other parts separately formed and secured thereto.

What I claim is- 1. In a spring-pivot, the combination of a shaft having a central bore, a spring therein, and a pivot engaging with said spring.

2. In combination a rotating shaft having a hollow bore, a pivot extending loosely into said bore, a spring forming a yielding hearing for said pivot, and a stop for limiting the upward movement of said pivot.

3. In combination a rotating shaft having a hollow bore, a pivot extending loosely into said bore, a spring forming a yielding hearing for said pivot, and means for limiting the upward and downward movements of said pivot.

i. In a spring-pivot the combination of a shaft having a central bore, a spring therein, a pivot with an enlarged head and a reduced shank engaging with said spring, said shank being surrounded by adevice closingsaid bore.

5. In a pivot-bearing the combination of a vertical shaft having an internal bore, a spring therein, a pivot having its upper end engaged by said spring and a stop for said pivot located between the body of said pivot and the inner end of said bore and surrounded by said spring.

6. In a pivot-bearing the combination of a shaft having an internal bore therein, a spring in said bore, a pivot having an enlarged head and a reduced shank engaging with said spring, a device closing said bore and surrounding said reduced shank and a stop located between the head of said pivot and the inner end of said bore.

7. In a pivot-bearing, the combination of a revolving shaft and a pinion removably secured thereto, and a pivot passing loosely therethrough.

8. In a pivot-bearing, the combination of a revolving shaft having a hollow bore, apivot fitting therein, a spring acting on said pivot and a pinion surrounding said pivot and detachably secured to said shaft.

9. In apivot-bearing, the combination of a revolving shaft having a hollow bore, a pivot litting therein, a spring acting on said pivot and a pinion loosely surrounding said pivot and detachably secured to said shaft.

10. In a pivot-bearing, the combination of a shafthaving a hollow bore, a spring therein, a pivot engaging with said spring, said pivot having an enlarged head and a reduced shank, means for closing the mouth of said bore, said means having gear-teeth on the outside thereof and formed integral therewith, and a gear engaging said gear-teeth.

11. In a pivot-bearing, the combination of a revolving shaft having a hollow bore, a spring therein, a pivot engaging with said spring, said pivot having an enlarged head and a reduced shank, a device closing the mouth of said bore and surrounding said shank, a revolving jewel supporting the lower end of said pivot, and a geartrain actuated by teeth formed upon said closing device.

Signed at Great Iiarrington, Massachusetts, this 15th day of July, 1904:.

HERBERT M. SMITH.

i Vitnesses:

WM. H. BROWNE, FRANK H. \NnIGn'r. 

